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Happy to finally have our goods arrive!

Richard & Andrea Carver

Latest AIM Newsletter:

November 28th, 2007

Well, we have now been in Papua New Guinea for just over four weeks now, and starting to get into the thick of things.

A major task has been getting our cargo from Australia safe and sound to the Mission House here in Goroka. I was always aware of the risks in getting it here, and wanted it to arrive quickly so I could get to work with the computers, as well as trying to avoid the wharf charges that we would incur if it stayed there too long.

We took the long 5-hour drive down to the port city of Lae, at the last minute deciding that the whole family would go. Bro Koko and some other men came with us for security. I took the drive slowly, not wanting to risk an accident. In PNG, if I was to accidentally injure someone on the road, the consequences could be anything from having to pay a large amount of compensation, to literally being stoned or chopped to death for careless driving.

The drive to Lae was uneventful, and we were glad to finally get there. I immediately got to work on trying to get our goods released. We actually went to Lae in faith, with no promise of having our goods released from Quarrantine in time. We went because the truck driver was coming back to Goroka the next day, and if we didn't get our goods this week, we might have to wait another week for them, and start to pay wharf storage fees.

Timothy drove in the truch with the driver, Bro Jack Auwo, pastor of Kefamo church.

With God's grace we managed to get our goods out from Quarrantine the day that our truck was leaving. We loaded our two pallettes on, filled up with diesel, but before heading up the Highlands Highway, the men travelling with us wanted to stop at the market to get some things for the long journey. We stopped, and they went in to the open-air market. We stayed at the car and waited for them. Andrea saw a nice dress for sale on the fence about 10 feet away from the car, so hopped out of the car to have a look. I stood at the back of the car, watching all our possessions in the back, making sure nothing got stolen, and Laura & Timothy sat in the back seat, playing with some toys. Because Lae is so hot and humid, I wound down the windows so they wouldn't melt in the back. BAD MOVE! While I was standing at the back, Andrea about 10 feet in front, and the kids in the back seat, someone reached through the window and snatched Andrea's bag, and we didn't even see it! Only after we hopped in the car again did we realise it was gone.

Andrea's Credit Card and Drivers Licence were stolen, as well as my second pair of glasses. But probably the greatest loss was the kid's lifetime collection of CDs and DVDs; most of their favourites such as Thomas the Tank Engine gone! But such is life! I think the thing that shocked us most was the brazeness of the thief. I had thought that with us all within 10 feet of the car, and the kids in the back seat, that no one would even attempt such a thing. The kid's didn't even see anything! I guess you can say this has QUICKLY got us up to speed with life in Papua New Guinea!!!

Timothy was most happy to see his first ever belt and neck-tie. Now he can look like Daddy!

We came home again from Lae along the section of road that I have renamed "the Jericho Road", because of it's reputation for highway robbers. Apparently it is common towards the evening for robbers armed with anything from home-made guns to M-16s to hold up cars and steal money and possessions. However we navigated this section of road without incident, and got back home with us and our goods safe and sound. It was like Christmas to open our boxes; the kids saw all the things we had packed up a few months earlier and forgotten all about. It was the simple things in life that rejoiced them the most: Timothy was most happiest to see 1) a belt for his trousers (so he could look like Dad), 2) a necktie for his shirt (so he could look like Dad), and 3) his favourite teddy bear.

I have now got to work in setting up my office room with my equipment, getting ready for the work to begin in the new year. Andrea has started to get used to the shopping and lifestyle, and the kids have settled in like nothing's different.

We have experienced very frequent power-outs since we arrived. Bro Koko told us it got worse just before our arrival. It has been common to have the power go off at least every day for three hours, sometimes up to six power-outs a day. Mostly it's around dinner time, and we have had some wonderful candlelight dinners. It doesn't help that the stove is electric though, and this has spoiled many a mealtime with half-cooked food, because once the power goes off, we can't cook. We really need a gas stove!

Dinner by Candlelight when the power goes out!

This weekend is the Eastern Highlands Regional Conference, and I am the Guest Speaker. We never cease to be amazed at how thrilled people are to have us here. Both new saints and old (from when I was a child) have come and expressed their gratitude for our coming to PNG.

We also want to express our gratitude for your prayers and support that has made it possible for us to come here. Many here are very grateful, and we believe many souls will be eternally grateful for your love for the work in Papua New Guinea.

May God bless you,

- Richard & Andrea Carver, Laura & Timothy

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